Did i just fry my amplifier?

[sqcomp]

Yeah...when audible clipping occurs, you're already well into the bad $hit. What DMM do you have? Also, I didn't use a DMM to read the waves...still, I'm sure that there are DMMs out there that have the capability.

[YarisSedan]

Originally Posted by sqcomp

Yeah...when audible clipping occurs, you're already well into the bad $hit. What DMM do you have? Also, I didn't use a DMM to read the waves...still, I'm sure that there are DMMs out there that have the capability.

Its a craftsman one with autoranging. I used to have a a real fluke meter but its somehow gone missing since i left my last shop.

[talnlnky]

Originally Posted by sqcomp

Yeah...when audible clipping occurs, you're already well into the bad $hit. What DMM do you have? Also, I didn't use a DMM to read the waves...still, I'm sure that there are DMMs out there that have the capability.

you don't have to read the waves like a scope. How you set it with a DMM is by reading the voltage.

Here we go...

Clipping is an increase of power going to the speaker without an increase of cone movement/sound production. Power = voltage * amperage, and each amplifier is limited to how much voltage they can produce. I want to say that a 1200w amp will be somewhere in the range of lime 70v... But I could be WAY off on that... Been a long time since I was into that stuff, doesn't matter really anyways...

So... if an amplifier reaches is max voltage, but you continue to turn up eq/bass boost/gain or volume on the deck you will in turn just get more amperage going to your speaker, but the voltage will still be the same.

So... what you need is...
1) a speaker/sub (it'll be crazy loud unless the speaker is playing free air).
2) DMM
3) A cd with sine waves/test tones that don't change pitch/frequency.(have sine waves that the speaker would play, i.e. if its a sub, 50hz is good, if it is your midrange speakers, 500hz.
4) some ear plugs or gunmuffs, it might get loud.

Now:
Deck clipping:
1)Turn gain down all the way.
2)have deck volume down all the way, put your cd in, set it for repeat-continues play.
3) Grab friend to control deck
4) hook up DMM to speaker wires or speaker terminals on amp (SUB HAS TO BE HOOKED UP)
5)slowly turn the volume up on the deck and watch the A/C voltage rise. keep increasing the deck volume until you notice the A/C voltage isn't increasing anymore. Once you find that point remember what volume setting you're at on the deck. Most decks start to clip around 80% of full volume when playing cd's. So... don't be surprised if it stops increasing somewhat early.

Amp clipping:
6) now set your deck for 1 or 2 clicks below where you saw it start to clip with the dmm.
7) use the gain knob to slowly increase volume just like you did before with the deck. Remember to have the sub hooked up, and watch for the voltage to peak.
8) once you find where the voltage no longer goes up any higher, dial back just a tiny bit.

Now you know approx. where both your deck & amp clip, If you then dial in any eq/bass boost or even crossovers you change how early or late the audio signal will start to clip.

Like I said before, this can be a loud process, so try not to be a douche and find a vacant field to do this at because it might take a few minutes and pure sine waves can travel very long distances.